Payroll Implementation Manager - Germany

Role Summary

As the Payroll Implementation Manager – Germany, you will serve as the payroll subject matter expert (SME) for all German payroll implementations. Working alongside a dedicated Payroll Project Manager, who owns overall project governance, timelines and delivery, you will lead all country-specific payroll activities from discovery through go-live. You will ensure every implementation is compliant with German legislation, aligned to best practice, and delivered to the highest quality.
You will be recognised as the internal authority for German payroll, providing expert guidance to customers, Sales, Product, Engineering and Payroll Operations. This role requires a minimum of 10 years' experience managing German payroll, extensive hands-on experience with German payroll software, and fluency in German and English.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the recognised SME for German payroll implementations.
• Lead payroll discovery workshops and advise customers on legislation and best practice.
• Challenge inefficient legacy processes and recommend scalable, compliant solutions.
• Work with Product and Engineering to validate payroll configuration.
• Lead payroll testing, parallel runs and payroll validation.
• Support Payroll Project Managers with go-live readiness and first payroll.
• Advise Sales and Presales on German payroll requirements.
• Identify legislative risks and implementation dependencies.
• Contribute to product enhancements and implementation methodology.
• Own Germany implementation playbooks, documentation and knowledge sharing.

Skills & Experience

Essential:
• Minimum 10 years' experience processing and implementing German payroll.
• Extensive experience operating German payroll in-house.
• Expert knowledge of German payroll legislation, tax, social insurance and statutory reporting.
• Extensive experience with leading German payroll engines (such as DATEV LODAS, DATEV Lohn und Gehalt, SAP HCM Payroll Germany, SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll, P&I LOGA, ADP Germany, SD Worx Germany or Sage HR Suite Germany).
• Strong stakeholder management and customer consulting skills.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
Country Requirements:
• Must be based in Germany.
• Must have the legal right to work in Germany.
• Must be fluent in German and English (written and spoken).
• Must have hands-on implementation and operational experience with German payroll software.

Success Measures

• Successful and compliant German payroll implementations.
• Accurate first payroll outcomes.
• High customer satisfaction.
• Strong collaboration with Payroll Project Managers.
• Continuous improvement of implementation standards and documentation.
• Identification of process and product improvements.